Wapenschil met devies 1816 - 1889

Johannes de Mare created this coat of arms with a motto through engraving sometime in the 19th century, a period of significant social and political upheaval. Heraldry was a visual language of power and identity, encoding lineage, allegiance, and status. But what happens when this visual language, traditionally reserved for nobility, trickles down through society? The motto “NEC TIMIDE NEC TUMIDE” (neither timidly nor haughtily) reflects the values of a rising class seeking to define itself against both the old aristocracy and the working class. Two figures with clubs flank the central shield: these figures could represent historical archetypes of strength but also the complex, evolving narratives of masculinity in the 19th century. This coat of arms reflects how traditional symbols of power and identity were being reinterpreted during a time of shifting social boundaries and the rise of new class identities.